The Road goes ever on and on; Down from the door where it began;
Now far ahead the Road has gone; And I must follow, if I can;
Pursuing it with eager feet; Until it joins some larger way;
Where many paths and errands met; And whither then? I cannot say.

[JRR Tolkien, Lord of the Rings]

Tuesday 12 January 2010

K2CW Itinerary (wandering off into a few random thoughts)

Considering how long ago I put our itinerary together, it’s taken me an awful long time to remember to publish it on Google Documents. Better late than never, so if you want to see what our plan is, then you’ll find it here.

The plan is not set in stone. In particular, I foresee that we will deviate from it between Gartness and Fort William. Although it may look at a glance like we’re going to be following the West Highland Way along this section, that is not our plan. The plotted route takes us, more interestingly, over a number of those lumpy things either side of the WHW.

The change I foresee may be simply a re-jigging of the mileages, dependent on how easy or hard going the terrain is, or it may be a complete re-routing if there’s still a lot of snow sticking around (I’m getting a bit nervous about the likelihood of too much snow; must get around to planning an alternative route, because I really don’t want to find that, due to lack of prior planning, we have no choice but to walk up the WHW. If we do find ourselves re-routing to a lower level, then (just for my own satisfaction) I have a vague plan to return after the World Cup is over to tackle the high level bit).

I will, of course, be blogging as we go, so any changes will become apparent as they happen.

As always, we will welcome anyone who fancies walking with us for a day (or more). Be warned though that after only having each other to talk to for a while you’re liable to be subjected to a lot of inane chatter!

A number of kind offers of overnight accommodation have already been made from people along our route (thank you!) . If anyone else happens to live by our route and should have a spare bed, floor or patch of garden that we could use for a night then all offers will be gratefully received!

9 comments:

  1. I'm a big fan of your blog and have left a few comments in the past. I'm a Londoner and I would love to join you for either the Greenwich to Kew or Kew to Uxbridge section of your walk.

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  2. Hi Karen - it'll be great to meet you as we walk through London. I'll post some contact details as the time gets nearer, so that we can sort out a time and a place.

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  3. That looks a great route. There are a number of nostalgic place names there for me, especially Loch an Nid. I camped on the side of that Loch which was a high spot of my trip – did you pass through there?

    I respect your good taste in avoiding the WHW – I did the same. I went north from Drymen to Aberfoyle and then to Killin etc.

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  4. Loch an Nid is one of the places that I am looking forward to revisting - and hopefully in good weather. It looked to be a spectacular place when we walked by in 2008, but was rather marred by the dreadful wet and murky day.

    We didn't actually camp by the Loch. I seem to recall that had been the plan, but we arrived there so early that we carried on for another two or three miles to camp at NH088776. Looking at the plotted route for this year, I've assumed that we'll use the same spot again.

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  5. So you'll be passing through Staffordshire on the Easter weekend, just as I'll be ramping up the K2B training. You wouldn't object to a little company?

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  6. Hi Steve - it'd be great to have you along. Look forward to seeing you then (and finding out who's doing the K2B this year).

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  7. Hi Gayle/Mick, Penny and I can meet you at Kew as our offer of a bed, bath, food, etc still stands. I'll send you a PM via facebook with our contact details.

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  8. Mick & Gayle - fancy some company on the weekend of 10th/11th April? Can also offer food, bath and bed - much better than a night at Standedge!

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  9. Phil - Your company (and a bed) would be fantastic on 10/11 April. Funnily enough, after last year's experience at Standedge I'd noted that we were going to wildcamp somewhere after Marsden rather than use that campsite again!

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